Death toll after Turkish earthquake reaches 22, with over 550 people suffering injuries
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22 people have been killed after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 struck eastern Turkey. Turkish officials have said more than 553 people are injured, including 11 who are in a serious condition, while around 30 were left trapped in the wreckage of toppled buildings.
The Turkish president early Saturday said all relevant departments have taken measures to ensure the safety of citizens following a 6.8-magnitude that struck the country’s eastern provinces.
“Our relevant institutions have taken all essential measures,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, adding interior, health and environment ministers were sent to the quake-hit area.
epa08161682 People try to get warm around a fire after an earthquake hit Elazig, Turkey, 25 January 2020. According to reports, twenty people have died and several are injured after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey, also affecting parts of Syria, Georgia and Armenia. EPA-EFE/STR
epa08161684 Rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble of a building after an earthquake hit Elazig, Turkey, 25 January 2020. According to reports, twenty people have died and several are injured after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey, also affecting parts of Syria, Georgia and Armenia. EPA-EFE/STR
epa08161689 Rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble of a building after an earthquake hit Elazig, Turkey, 25 January 2020. According to reports, twenty people have died and several are injured after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey, also affecting parts of Syria, Georgia and Armenia. EPA-EFE/STR
epa08161691 A building lies in after an earthquake hit Elazig, Turkey, 25 January 2020. According to reports, twenty people have died and several are injured after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey, also affecting parts of Syria, Georgia and Armenia. EPA-EFE/STR
epa08161690 Rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble of a building after an earthquake hit Elazig, Turkey, 25 January 2020. According to reports, twenty people have died and several are injured after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey, also affecting parts of Syria, Georgia and Armenia. EPA-EFE/STR
epaselect epa08161681 Rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble of a building after an earthquake hit Elazig, Turkey, 25 January 2020. According to reports, twenty people have died and several are injured after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey, also affecting parts of Syria, Georgia and Armenia. EPA-EFE/STR
Erdogan said the country’s Red Crescent (Kizilay), the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and all other institutions were ready to assist citizens adversely affected by the natural disaster.
The quake was also felt in many other provinces including Adana, Osmaniye, Tunceli and Hatay. In addition, northern Syrian regions including Idlib, Azaz, Al-Bab, Jarabulus, Afrin and Tal Abyad also felt tremors.
This is not the first earthquake Turkey has observed in 2020 as a 5.4-magnitude quake jolted western province of Manisa on Wednesday, whereas the capital Ankara was rattled by a 4.5-magnitude quake on Thursday.
In 2010, Elazig province was hit by a 6-magnitude earthquake, killing a total of 51 people.
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu described the earthquake as a “level 3” incident, according to Turkey’s emergency response plan – meaning that it called for a national help response but did not require international help.
Hundreds of residents were left homeless or with damaged homes as buildings collapsed in affected towns near the centre of the tremor, which was felt in several neighbouring countries.
Sky News reports him saying that two people suffered heart attacks and five others died in Malatya.
